SalaryByCity

Data Scientists vs Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education: Salary Comparison (2024)

Side-by-side salary comparison using 2024 Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

Data Scientists

$112,590

Median annual salary

233,440 employed nationally

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

$62,340

Median annual salary

1,393,310 employed nationally

Which Career Pays More?

Data Scientists professionals earn $50,250 more per year than Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education professionals — that's 80.6% higher. At the 90th percentile, Data Scientists earns $194,410 compared to $102,010 for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education.

Salary Range Comparison

Data Scientists$63,650 – $194,410
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education$46,440 – $102,010
$46,440$194,410

Detailed Salary Comparison

PercentileData ScientistsElementary School Teachers, Except Special EducationDifference
10th Percentile$63,650$46,440+$17,210
25th Percentile$82,630$50,680+$31,950
Median (50th)$112,590$62,340+$50,250
75th Percentile$155,810$79,410+$76,400
90th Percentile$194,410$102,010+$92,400
Mean (Average)$124,590$69,790+$54,800

Employment Numbers

Data Scientists

233,440

employed nationwide

Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

1,393,310

employed nationwide

Top Paying Cities

Best Cities for Data Scientists

CityMedian
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$173,160
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$166,300
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$157,290
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV$135,190
Boston-Cambridge-Nashua, MA-NH$131,830

Best Cities for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education

CityMedian
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA$100,580
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA$99,970
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA$99,780
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA$98,890
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA$98,270

Frequently Asked Questions

Who earns more: Data Scientists or Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?
Data Scientists professionals earn more, with a median salary difference of $50,250 (80.6% higher) as of 2024 BLS data.
What is the salary range for Data Scientists?
Data Scientists salaries range from $63,650 (10th percentile) to $194,410 (90th percentile), with a median of $112,590.
What is the salary range for Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education?
Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education salaries range from $46,440 (10th percentile) to $102,010 (90th percentile), with a median of $62,340.
How many Data Scientists and Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education jobs are there?
There are approximately 233,440 Data Scientists positions and 1,393,310 Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education positions nationwide according to 2024 BLS data.
Is it worth switching from Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education to Data Scientists?
Career decisions depend on many factors beyond salary. Data Scientists has a median salary of $112,590 while Elementary School Teachers, Except Special Education earns $62,340. Consider job satisfaction, growth prospects, required education, and work-life balance.

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Data verified March 2026 · Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS